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Nobel Peace Prize recipients have been in the news recently with 2014 laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, visiting South Africa to deliver the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg on 5 December. On Sunday 10 December, Narges Mohammadi (51), An Iranian women's rights activist, was honoured with the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. The launch of the 2023 1oz Nobel silver medallion coincided with the prestigious Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. This collector’s piece is a reminder of Alfred Nobel’s dedication to peace, the spirit of unity, innovation and harmony that the Nobel Peace Prize represents.
Rael Demby, CEO of The South African Gold Coin Exchange & The Scoin Shop, considers silver coins and medallions a good start for enthusiasts working towards a collection. The 2023 medallion depicts Alfred Nobel in left profile on the obverse, and micro-engraving technology has been used to add intricate text. The workmanship of the Royal Mint of Norway can be appreciated in the artistry and technical skill because these micro-engraved elements are challenging to reproduce.
Only 10 000 of these medallions – a small mintage for a silver product – have been struck by the Norwegian Mint and each one is marked with a unique number. Features like this contribute to the collectors' value of these commemorative pieces.
“Collecting coins is like collecting art, antique furniture and rare cars – coins honour milestones, history and people,” Demby says.
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish entrepreneur, businessman, inventor and scientist who also wrote plays and poems. Among other things, Nobel developed dynamite and was the holder of more than 355 patents. Upon his death in 1896, he was one of the wealthiest people in the world. His extensive interests were reflected in the Nobel Prizes, which he established in his will in 1895. Since 1901 the Nobel Prizes have been honouring men and women worldwide for extraordinary achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace work.
South Africans are no strangers to the Nobel Peace Prize, with four Laureates from our nation having been honoured so far. Chief Albert Luthuli was the first South African and African to be honoured this way in 1960. In 1984, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to emeritus archbishop Desmond Tutu (then only a bishop). And then, during the final fall of apartheid, the Peace Prize in 1993 went to former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk. It was jointly awarded "for their work for the peaceful end of the apartheid regime and for laying the foundations for a new, democratic South Africa”, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
According to Demby, royalties worth around R45 million have already been collected for the Nelson Mandela and Nobel Foundations by selling Nobel Laureate-associated coins and medallions. “The South African Gold Coin Exchange & The Scoin Shop have an exclusive relationship with The Royal Mint of Norway. This means we enjoy sole distribution rights of collectible coins and medals minted by them, including Nobel memorabilia. We are delighted to introduce this new Nobel Silver 1 Oz Medallion and are proud of our ongoing relationship with Det Norske Myntverket (Mint of Norway) and the Nobel Laureate programme.”
Global industrial demand is growing, and silver is used in nearly every major industry, from electronics and medical applications to batteries and solar panels. Silver plays a vital role in our modern lives. It's critical in a million different applications. Whether you know it or not, we rely on silver every day. The metal is all around us – in cellphones, laptops, televisions, tablets, printers, speakers, scanners, keyboards, and the list goes on. It's a commodity that the world seems to have an insatiable appetite for. Every day, the world uses nearly 3 million ounces of silver. With manufacturing already accounting for more than half of all silver demand and industrial uses continuing to expand, demand for this precious metal is likely to remain dynamic.
For collectors aiming to build up a reserve of precious metal coins and medallions, silver is more attainable for the average investor. It is a way to hold some precious metals. “Coins and medallions, gold or silver – buy what you like, what inspires you or invokes memories, experiences, and life experiences,” Demby says.
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by Scoin.
